Arista Networks has introduced AI-driven Edge Threat Management (ETM) for VeloCloud SD-WAN, expanding its secure networking portfolio with integrated zero trust security for enterprise branch offices. The new solution enables organizations to consolidate networking and security into a single SD-WAN edge platform, simplifying branch infrastructure while enhancing protection against evolving cyber threats.
Arista Networks announced the launch of AI-driven Edge Threat Management (ETM) for VeloCloud SD-WAN, enabling enterprises to integrate zero trust security directly into branch networking infrastructure. The software-based solution allows organizations to consolidate multiple networking and security appliances into a unified secure SD-WAN edge platform.
By combining secure connectivity with advanced threat protection, ETM helps enterprises simplify branch deployments while maintaining centralized management through the VeloCloud Orchestrator. The unified platform operates with a common operating system, consistent security policies, and a single enforcement engine, providing administrators with end-to-end visibility across distributed branch environments.
The integrated ETM solution includes enterprise-grade security capabilities such as advanced firewalling, threat prevention, zone-based segmentation, Geo-IP filtering, DNS filtering, and AI-powered policy insights. These security controls are delivered directly at the branch WAN edge, allowing organizations to strengthen their security posture without deploying additional hardware.
Arista also incorporates Arista AVA (Autonomous Virtual Assist) to improve security administration through AI-powered policy intelligence. Features including Policy Explainer and Traffic Simulation leverage Ask AVA to translate complex security rules into simplified language, helping administrators better understand policy behavior, reduce configuration errors, and evaluate policy changes before deployment.
"The new ETM functionality allows us to offer requested security services on top of the existing SD-WAN infrastructure managed within the same GUI. This eliminates the need to deploy a separate firewall box managed from a separate GUI, especially for small branches," said Till Bockenheimer from T&A SYSTEME GmbH, a German MSP managing 7500+ sites in 98 countries for 10+ years within VeloCloud SD-WAN for its customers.
Arista positions the new ETM platform as part of its broader strategy to enable AI-ready enterprise networking by combining intelligent automation with integrated security.
"The network edge must evolve to be smarter and more autonomous as our clients expand their AI-driven operations from reactive troubleshooting to predictive management," states Edward Fox III, Chief Technology Officer at MetTel.
“The new zero trust integrated security with ETM, developed organically by Arista, showcases the power of the combined Arista and VeloCloud teams on the anniversary of the VeloCloud acquisition. Customers can now simplify and unify the branch, extending enterprise-grade zero trust security to the branch office WAN edge,” said John McCool, Senior Vice President at Arista Networks.
The introduction of ETM reinforces Arista's focus on delivering secure, AI-enabled networking infrastructure spanning client devices, enterprise branches, data centers, and cloud environments.
Arista confirmed that Edge Threat Management (ETM) for VeloCloud SD-WAN will become generally available in Q4 2026. The solution will support all existing VeloCloud hardware and virtual edge platforms, allowing current customers to adopt the software through an upgrade rather than replacing existing infrastructure.
Arista Networks is an industry leader in data-driven, client-to-cloud networking for large AI, data center, campus, and routing environments. Its platforms deliver availability, agility, automation, analytics, and security through an advanced network operating stack. Arista is an S&P 500 member and was recognized on the 2026 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by revenue. For more information, visit www.arista.com.
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